Electromechanical safety for weapons, and weapon provided with the same

ABSTRACT

An electromechanical safety for weapons ( 1 ), provided with a mechanical safety device, includes a base electronic unit, actuating an electromechanical transducer ( 2 ) acting on the safety mechanical device, and a transponder ( 5 ), the base unit providing a central control and processing unit, connected with a transceiver unit ( 4 ), continuously transmitting an enquiry signal, able to talk with the transponder ( 5 ), when the latter is within the transmission range of the transceiver unit ( 4 ), the transponder ( 5 ) having no power supply and receiving the power necessary to its operation from the signal transmitted by the transceiver unit ( 4 ), said at least one transponder ( 5 ) transmits, an identification code and the base unit actuates the electromechanical transducer ( 2 ) in such a way to release the safety mechanical device when receives an identification code corresponding to a code stored in the base unit and actuating the electromechanical transducer ( 2 ) in such a way to insert the safety mechanical device as soon as the base unit no more receives the identification code.

The present invention relates to an electromechanical safety forweapons, and to a weapon provided with the same.

More specifically, the electromechanical safety allows, on the basis ofthe recognition of a specific code, the fast insertion or releasing of asafety, thus being easily usable, highly reliable and efficient.

It is known that present weapons are provided with safety devicesallowing their controlled use. Particularly for personal use weapons,either for private citizens or for police, it is provided the use ofmechanical safeties that, when inserted, disable its operation. Usually,to insert or release said mechanical safeties it is necessary for theuser to apply a remarkable force on elements having reduced dimensions,said force being equal to the force necessary to the displacement of amass of some hundreds grams, in order to prevent an accidental operationand to prevent the children from releasing said safeties.

However, said mechanical safeties have some drawbacks.

First of all, cases of accidental operation of the mechanical safetiescan always occur, even if they are rare.

Further, also children can sometimes operate the safeties, thus causingvery dangerous situations.

Finally, present fast operation mechanical safeties do not prevent theirreleasing by a user different from the authorised owner. This createsvery dangerous situations, e.g. in case of fight between the weaponowner and an aggressor, for example during the standard police activity,when the weapon, slipping out of the owner policeman, can be taken andused by the aggressor against the same policeman. Similar situationsoccur, for example, in case of a theft in the house of a weapon owner,or in case of unauthorised appropriation of the weapon by a parent oracquaintance of the owner.

Solutions providing the adoption of mechanical safeties of the lockkind, are not very useful since their operation is extremely slow and donot solve the mentioned drawbacks with respect to a fight between theowner and the aggressor.

In this situation, it is included the solution suggested according tothe present invention, allowing to reduce all the above mentionedproblems.

Therefore, it is object of the present invention to allow in a simple,reliable and efficient way the fast insertion and releasing of a weaponsafety, the releasing being allowed only to authorised users.

It is therefore specific object of the present invention anelectromechanical safety for weapons, provided with a mechanical safetydevice, comprising a base electronic unit, actuating anelectromechanical transducer acting on the safety mechanical device, andat least a transmitter-responder, or transponder, the base unitproviding a central control and processing unit, preferably comprising amicroprocessor, connected with a transceiver unit, continuouslytransmitting an enquiry signal, able to talk with said at least onetransponder, when the latter is in the transmission range of thetransceiver unit, said at least one transponder having no power supplyand receiving the power necessary to its operation from the signaltransmitted by the transceiver unit, said at least one transpondertransmitting, when supplied, an identification code, the base unitactuating the electromechanical transducer in such a way to release thesafety mechanical device when receives an identification codecorresponding to a code stored in the base unit and actuating theelectromechanical transducer in such a way to insert the safetymechanical device as soon as the base unit no more receives saididentification code.

Preferably, according to the invention, the electromechanical transducercomprises a ratio-motor, operated by the base unit, interacting with amechanical reduction gear acting on the safety mechanical device by ashaped cam movable between two limit positions, corresponding to theinsertion and the releasing of the mechanical safety device, said twolimit positions being respectively revealed by two corresponding limitmicroswitches disabling the supply of the ratio-motor.

Always according to the invention, the base electronic unit can be alsoprovided with one or more supply batteries, preferably rechargeablebatteries.

Still according to the invention, the base electronic unit can befurther provided with acoustic and/or visual signalling devices,preferably with a light signalling device comprising one or more lightemitting diodes, or LED.

Preferably, according to the invention, the transmission range of thetransceiver unit has a maximum extension not larger than 15 cm.

It is further object of the present invention a weapon providing saidelectromechanical safety.

Further features and embodiments of the invention are described in thedepending claims.

The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but notlimitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, withparticular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial lateral view, with the inner elements that arevisible, of a gun provided with a safety according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of communication electronic circuits ofa safety according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the mechanical transducerof the safety device of FIG. 1.

The electromechanical safety according to the invention allows therecognition of an authorised user of the weapon on which it is provided.Said authorised user is identified by recognising an identification codeallowing the releasing of a standard mechanical safety device, usuallycomprised of a lever. Said mechanical device can be provided on thehammer, on the trigger or on any other element of the weapon able todisable its operation. Safety provides an electronic circuitry,operating an electromechanical transducer acting on the mechanicalsafety device, realising a passive radiofrequency communication betweena base unit and a transmitter—responder, or transponder, without powersupply, receiving the necessary power for its operation directly fromthe base unit and talking with the latter, providing its identificationcode.

Making reference to FIG. 1, concerning the application of a preferredembodiment of the safety according to the invention on a gun 1, that isonly partially shown, it can be noted that the safety according to theinvention comprises an electromechanical transducer 2, operating on astandard safety mechanical device, not shown, by a shaped cam 23,movable between two limit positions: a first position corresponding tothe insertion of the mechanical safety device, and a second limitposition, in correspondence of which the cam 23 is shown in FIG. 1,corresponding to the insertion of the safety mechanical device.

Making reference to FIG. 2, electromechanical transducer 2 is operatedby the base unit, provided with a microprocessor, not shown, connectedwith a transceiver unit 4, when the base unit recognises theidentification code received from a transponder 5 as a code authorisedto the releasing of the safety mechanical device. Base unit is alsoprovided with one or more supply batteries, not shown, preferablyrechargeable, still more preferably nickel—metal hydride batteries, witha power switch, not shown, and with a light signalling device,comprising one or more light. emitting diodes, or LED, preferably with aplurality of colours, not shown as well. In the preferred embodiment,the base unit is housed within the gunstock 6 of the gun 1 and isprovided with a single three colour LED. Preferably, the base unit iscomprised of surface mounting components.

The transceiver unit 4 of the base unit provides an antenna 7 connectedwith a transmitter circuit and a receiver circuit.

The transmitter circuit comprises an encoder 8, receiving the signal tobe transmitted by the microprocessor, the signal of which is mixed withthe carrier wave, generated by an oscillator 9, in a modulator 10, theoutput signal of which is filtered by a low frequency blocking capacitor11. In the preferred embodiment, the oscillator 9 generates a carrierwave having a frequency of 125 kHz.

The receiver circuit comprises a demodulator 12, tuned to the frequencyof the carrier wave of the receive signal, which provides the modulatingsignal to a decoder 13 that sends the received code to themicroprocessor.

The base unit talks with a transponder 5 comprising a resonant circuit14, operating as transceiver antenna, and an electronically erasable andprogrammable read only memory unit 15, or EEPROM, wherein anidentification code is stored. In the preferred embodiment, the EEPROMunit 15 has a capacity of 128 byte. Transponder 5 further comprises acontactless interface 16 that, exploiting the power of the signalreceived from the resonant circuit 14, acts as power supply for thetransponder 5, provides the clock signal, which imposes the operationtiming of the devices of the transponder 5, and operates as a signalmodulator and demodulator. Lastly, the transponder comprises a unit 17for controlling the access to the EEPROM unit 15, in order to carry outthe reading and/or writing operations of the latter. Transponder 5 isadvantageously inserted in a glove or, preferably, in a ring that can beput on by the gun 1 owner.

Base unit continuously transmits an enquiry signal in the environmentsurrounding the antenna 7. When the owner, wearing said ring or glove,holds the gun 1, transponder 5 enters within the transmission range ofthe base unit and transmits the identification code stored in the EEPROMunit 15. The microprocessor of the base unit analyses and recognisessaid code, actuating the electromechanical transducer 2, that releasesthe mechanical safety device of the gun 1, enabling its operation.

The base unit continuously enquiries the transponder 5 in such a waythat, in case the latter is far from the transmission range of the baseunit and can no more communicate with the former, the base unit actuatesthe electromechanical transducer 2, in such a way to reinstate thesafety mechanical device.

One of the drawbacks that has been solved in realising theelectromechanical safety according to the invention is that of limitingthe consumption of the power necessary to release and to insert thesafety mechanical device.

In fact, most diffused technology for this kind of uses provides anelectromagnet excluding the safety mechanical device which is able tomake a sufficient mechanical traction, corresponding to the tractionnecessary to displace a mass of some hundreds grams (usually 350 grams).Since the electromagnet requires a high current absorption, its useproduces a fast discharge of the supply batteries of the base unit, thusmaking completely unreliable the safety of the gun 1.

Making reference to FIG. 3, electromechanical transducer 2 used in theelectromechanical safety device according to the invention comprises aratio-motor 18, actuated by the base unit, interacting with a mechanicalreduction gear 19, operating on the safety mechanical device, not shown,by the shaped cam 23 movable between two limit positions.

Particularly, mechanical reduction gear 19 comprises a body 24, withinwhich the assembly comprised of a cylinder 25 and of a little cylinder27 slides, said cylinder 25 having a special screw 26 screwed thereon,said screw 26 having threaded head 26′ and axial stem 26″, said littlecylinder 27 having the point of the stem 26″ partially insertedthereinto, said point being blocked by a first stop screw or grain 28.On the other side of the little cylinder 27, with respect to the stem26″, the slidable shaft 29 of the ratio-motor 18 is inserted, the latterbeing locked by a second grain 28′; ratio-motor 18 is blocked in itsposition by the screw 30. A pin 3 and a pin 31 are screwed, orthogonallywith respect to one another, on the outer wall of the cylinder 25, andare movable within relevant slots 20 and 32 (slot 32 can be seen inbroken line in FIG. 1); in this way, pin 3 and pin 31 are integral withthe slidable shaft 29 of the ratio-motor 18. Shaped cam 23, rotatingabout the fulcrum 33, interacts with the pin 31, in such a way to act asa lever, at the end of the arm of which a roll 34 is fixed, thatoperates on the standard safety mechanical device, not shown.

Pin 3 is movable within the slot 20 between a first limit position, incorrespondence of which, in FIG. 1, the pin is shown in broken line andindicated by the reference number 3′, corresponding to the insertion ofthe safety mechanical device, and a second limit position, incorrespondence of which, in FIG. 1, pin 3 is shown in solid line,corresponding to the releasing of the safety mechanical device. Said twolimit positions are revealed by two corresponding limit microswitches,respectively indicated by reference numbers 21 and 22, disabling thesupply of the ratio-motor 18.

Ratio-motor 18 preferably is a DC micro-motor, or a stepper micro-motor,or a rotative transducer.

Electromechanical transducer 2 allows to supply the ratio-motor 18 onlyfor a very short time, thus prolonging the life time of the batteriesthat are constantly used only to provide the low supply current of theelectronic devices of the base unit, just for few tens milliamperes.Preferably, electronic devices of the base unit are supplied with avoltage of 5 Volts.

In order to better understand the present invention, in the followingoperation modes of the preferred embodiment of the electromechanicalsafety are described, similar modes being valid also for otherembodiments.

When the base unit is activated by turning on the power switch, themicroprocessor carries out a control test of the proper operation of thedevices, turns on the signalling LED with a first colour and startstransmitting an enquiry signal.

When the base unit recognises the identification code received from anauthorised transponder 5, the microprocessor changes LED colour andactuates the micro-reduction gear 18 that, by the mechanical reductiongear 19, will release the standard safety mechanical device, thusenabling the gun to shot.

Until the transponder 5 remains within the transmission range of thebase unit, gun 1 is activated and ready to shot.

When transponder 5 moves away from the base unit, until exiting from thetransmission range, the base unit no more reads the authorised code andthe microprocessor actuates the micro-reduction gear 18, making itrotating according to an opposite direction and reinstating the safetymechanical device.

When transponder 5 is within the transmission range of the base unit,even if the power switch is turned off, base unit does not turn off,since it could erroneously remain armed. Only when transponder 5 ismoved away, micro-reduction gear 18 is operated in such a way toreinstate the safety mechanical device; to release it again, the powerswitch must be turned on and transponder 5 must move to the base unit.

In order to allow both the use of more than one transponder 5, havingdifferent codes for the same weapon, thus enabling more users, and theuse of a single transponder 5 to release the safeties of more weapons,the base unit is able to learn more than one authorised identificationcode, preferably twenty codes. Particularly, the preferred embodiment ofthe electromechanical safety according to the invention provides asuitable programming transponder that, placed within the transmissionrange of the base unit, transmits a suitable learning code. The baseunit, once received this code, remains waiting the new identificationcode to be stored, that is transmitted by the corresponding transponder5 of the new user. The occurred storing of the new code is indicated bythe LED, preferably by flashing.

In order to delete the stored codes from the base unit, the preferredembodiment of the electromechanical safety according to the inventionprovides a suitable cancellation transponder that, placed within thetransmission range of the base unit, transmits a suitable cancellationcode. Also the occurred cancellation of the memorised codes from thebase unit is signalled by the LED.

The programming transponder and the cancellation transponder preferablyhave the shape of a PVV isocard or small PVC disk.

Steps described in the preceding for the programming and cancellation ofthe codes can also be carried out by one or more microswitches, to bemaneuvered within the weapon.

The preferred embodiment of the electromechanical safety according tothe invention provides that the batteries can be directly rechargedwithin the weapon by a connector.

Preferably, the charge level of the batteries is continuously checked bythe microprocessor and indicated by the LED. In order to prevent that,when the complete discharge of the batteries occurs, the weapon remainsarmed, the microprocessor activates a self-turning off circuit when itdetects that the voltage of the batteries falls to a threshold valuestill sufficient for the operation of the base unit and of themechanical transducer 2. Said self-turning off circuit actuates themicro-reduction gear 18 in such a way to reinsert the mechanical safetydevice, and then turns the base unit off.

The base unit can be also installed in different positions with respectto the one described, corresponding to the gunstock of the gun 1, takinginto consideration also the possible use on different weapons, such asrifles or machine-guns.

Electromechanical safety according to the present invention can also beprovided on already existing weapons.

For illustrative, but not limitative purposes, in case of a gun, it ispossible to install a housing for the batteries under the barrel,eventually along with a tracking laser, while in a grip of the handlethe base unit can be provided and in the other grip of the handle it canbe provided the electromechanical transducer 2.

Mounting of the electromechanical safety can be easily carried outdismounting the original grips of the handle and replacing them withthose respectively housing the base unit and the electromechanicaltransducer 2.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but notlimitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it isto be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced bythose skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope asdefined in the enclosed claims.

1. Electromechanical safety apparatus for weapons (1), provided with amechanical safety device, comprising a base electronic unit, actuatingan electromechanical transducer (2) acting on the safety mechanicaldevice, and at least a transmitter—responder, or transponder (5), thebase unit providing a central control and processing unit, connectedwith a transceiver unit(4), continuously transmitting an enquiry signal,able to talk with said at least one transponder (5), when the latter iswithin the transmission range of the transceiver unit (4), said at leastone transponder (5) having no power supply and receiving the powernecessary to its operation from the signal transmitted by thetransceiver unit (4), said at least one transponder (5) transmitting,when supplied, an identification code, the base unit actuating theelectromechanical transducer (2) in such a way to release the safetymechanical device when receives an identification code corresponding toa code stored into the base unit and actuating the electromechanicaltransducer (2) in such a way to insert the safety mechanical device assoon as the base unit no more receives said identification code, whereinthe electromechanical transducer (2) comprises a ratio-motor (18),operated by the base unit, interacting with a mechanical reduction gear(19) acting on the safety mechanical device by a shaped cam (23) movablebetween two limit positions, corresponding to the insertion and thereleasing of the mechanical safety device, said two limit positionsbeing respectively revealed by two corresponding limit microswitches(21, 22) disabling the supply of the ratio-motor (18).
 2. Safetyapparatus for weapons according to claim 1, characterised in that theratio-motor (18) is a DC micro-motor, or a stepper micro-motor, or arotative transducer.
 3. Safety apparatus for weapons according to claim1, characterised in that the base electronic unit is further providedwith acoustic and/or visual signalling devices.
 4. Safety apparatus forweapons according to claim 3, characterised in that said signallingdevices provide a light signalling device comprising one or more lightemitting diodes, or LED.
 5. Safety apparatus for weapons according toclaim 1, characterised in that the transceiver unit (4) of the base unitprovides an antenna (7) connected with a transmitter circuit and areceiver circuit, the transmitter circuit comprising an encoder (8),receiving the signals to be transmitted by said control and processingunit, the signal of which is mixed with the carrier wave, generated byan oscillator (9), in a modulator (10), the output signal of which isfiltered by a low frequency blocking capacitor (11), the receivercircuit comprising a demodulator (12), providing the modulating signalto a decoder (13), that sends the received code to said control andprocessing unit.
 6. Safety apparatus for weapons according to claim 5,characterised in that the oscillator (9) generates a carrier wave havinga frequency of 125 kHz.
 7. Safety apparatus for weapons according toclaim 1, characterised in that the base electronic unit is comprised ofsurface mounting components.
 8. Safety apparatus for weapons accordingto claim 1, characterised in that the transmission range of thetransceiver unit (4) has a maximum extension not larger than 15 cm. 9.Safety apparatus for weapons according to claim 1, characterised in thatsaid at least one transponder (5) comprises a resonant circuit (14),operating as transceiver antenna, an electronically erasable andprogrammable read only memory unit (15), or EEPROM, wherein anidentification code is stored, a contactless interface (16) that,exploiting power of the signal received from the resonant circuit (14),acts as power supply for the transponder (5), provides the clock signal,and operates as a signal modulator and demodulator, and a unit (17) forcontrolling the access to the EEPROM unit (15), in order to carry outthe reading and/or writing operations of the latter.
 10. Safetyapparatus for weapons according to claim 9, characterized in that theEEPROM unit (15) has a capacity of 128 byte.
 11. Safety apparatus forweapons according to claim 1, characterised in that each transponder (5)is inserted in a ring or in a glove.
 12. Safety apparatus for weaponsaccording to claim 1, characterised in that said base electronic unit isadapted to store more than one authorised identification code. 13.Safety apparatus for weapons according to claim 12, characterised inthat the base electronic unit is able to cancel all the storedidentification codes.
 14. Safety apparatus for weapons according toclaim 12, further comprising a programming transponder able to transmita special programming code which lets the base electronic unit be instand-by condition waiting for receiving a new identification code to bestored.
 15. Safety apparatus for weapons according to claim 13, furthercomprising a cancellation transponder adapted to transmit a specialcancellation code causing the cancellation of all identification codesstored in the base electronic unit.
 16. Safety apparatus for weaponsaccording to claim 12, characterised in that it provides one or moremicroswitches.
 17. Safety apparatus for weapons according to claim 1,characterised in that the base electronic unit is further provided witha power switch.
 18. Safety apparatus for weapons according to claim 17,characterised in that, when a transponder (5) transmitting an authorisedidentification code is within the transmission range of the baseelectronic unit, the safety mechanical device is released and the powerswitch is turned off, the control and processing central unit preventsthe turning off of the base electronic unit until said transponder (5)does not exit from the transmission range of the base unit and theelectromechanical transducer (2) does not reinstate the safetymechanical device.
 19. Safety apparatus for weapons according to claim1, characterized in that the control and processing central unitcomprises a microprocessor.
 20. The safety apparatus for weaponsaccording to claim 1 in a weapon.
 21. Electromechanical safety apparatusfor weapons (1), provided with a mechanical safety device, comprising abase electronic unit, actuating an electromechanical transducer (2)acting on the safety mechanical device, and at least atransmitter—responder, or transponder (5), the base unit providing acentral control and processing unit, connected with a transceiver unit(4), continuously transmitting an enquiry signal, able to talk with saidat least one transponder (5), when the latter is within the transmissionrange of the transceiver unit (4), said at least one transponder (5)having no power supply and receiving the power necessary to itsoperation from the signal transmitted by the transceiver unit (4), saidat least one transponder (5) transmitting, when supplied, anidentification code, the base unit actuating the electromechanicaltransducer (2) in such a way to release the safety mechanical devicewhen receives an identification code corresponding to a code stored intothe base unit and actuating the electromechanical transducer (2) in sucha way to insert the safety mechanical device as soon as the base unit nomore receives said identification code, wherein the base electronic unitis provided with one or more rechargeable supply batteries, and whereinthe charge level of the batteries is checked by the control andprocessing central unit in such a way that, in case the safetymechanical device is released and the voltage of the batteries falls toa threshold level still sufficient for the operation of the base unitand of the electromechanical transducer (2), said central unit activatesa self-turning off circuit actuating the electromechanical transducer(2), so as to reinstate the safety mechanical device and then turns thebase electronic unit off.